Climate Resiliency & Sustainability
Here in District 39, we see the effects of climate change on a daily basis: brushfires in Prospect Park, increased flooding in Gowanus, constantly rising temperatures, and more. We must take bold action now. We need immediate common sense efforts to stem the immediate dangers posed by climate change. At the same time, we must implement long term strategies to both prepare our communities for increased extreme weather and increase sustainability. As your Council Member I will fight to make District 39 and NYC a leader in resiliency and sustainability.
AIR QUALITY
Institute and uphold standards of air quality in school buildings
Increase the coverage of NYC’s tree canopy from 22% to 30%, while prioritizing communities with especially low rates of tree coverage
CLIMATE PROOFING
Codify and fund the City’s Cooling Center Program, prioritizing those in the most vulnerable communities.
Increase funding for the CoolRoofs Program to train New Yorkers to install solar reflective coating on rooftops to reduce cooling needs
Restart the Get Cool Program to provide air conditioners free of charge for low-income seniors
Fully fund NYC Parks to the goal of 1% of the City budget to ensure our green spaces are properly maintained, expanded, and safeguarded from the negative effects of climate change (like the recent fire in Prospect Park)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Establish a reporting system for property owners to report breakdowns of gas heating systems and appliances and be connected with public agencies and private companies that provide subsidies to replace the gas systems with efficient electric systems
Expand the parameters of the Benchmarking and Energy Efficiency Rating program to include all buildings greater than 10,000 square feet
Ramp up installation of solar panels on the roofs on city-owned properties and the construction of more energy storage systems using creative approaches such as installing them at retired power stations
FLOOD PREVENTION & COASTAL RESILIENCY
Implement the city’s Green Infrastructure Plan
Invest more in anti-flooding infrastructure including underground storage tanks, bioswales, permeable pavement, and rain gardens—with a focus on the most flood prone residential areas such as Gowanus and those uphill from flood zones
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Ramp up the DSNY’s Pilot Containerization Program and push for the expansion of permanent sealed containers for trash bags to be citywide
Upgrade and retrofit sewage infrastructure to prevent combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from dumping unregulated contaminants into waterways